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By IFC LLC

10 Shagadelic Facts About the Austin Powers Movies

Get groovy with the Austin Powers movies this month on IFC.

Posted by Brian Steele on June 13thPhoto Credit: New Line Cinema/Everett Collection

With the Austin Powers movies airing on IFC this month, we thought we’d look back at the trilogy that launched a thousand “Yeah, baby!” impressions, and offer a few fun facts you may not know about the grooviest spy this side of Liverpool. Trust us — these tasty tidbits are sure to make you horny, baby.

10. Burt Bacharach’s “The Look of Love” Inspired Austin Powers.

New Line Cinema

Writer/star Mike Myers was driving with his wife when this randy anthem came on the radio. Wondering whatever happened to all the ’60s swingers, Myers started cracking jokes, asking his wife “Do I make you horny?” Annoyed, she told him to stop doing the voice, and just write the character down. He then knocked out the script for Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery in three weeks.

9. Jim Carrey Almost Played Dr. Evil.

New Line Cinema

Initially, Myers had no plans to play multiple characters in the Austin Powers movies. He actually approached Jim Carrey about playing Powers’ arch nemesis, Dr. Evil. Carrey was interested, but already committed to making Liar, Liar. While his take on the million dollars-obsessed master criminal would have been interesting, Myers ended up creating a classic character based on…

8. Lorne Michaels Inspired Dr. Evil.

While he resembles Bond villains Blofeld and Julius No in appearance, Myers based Dr. Evil’s unique vocal mannerisms and turns of phrases on his SNL boss. (Michaels is said to have uttered the line “Throw me a frickin’ bone here, people!” many times in script meetings.) Dana Carvey has noted that Dr. Evil is similar to the impression he did of Lorne during his and Myers’ SNL days, something which reportedly caused tension between the Wayne’s World duo.

7. Colin Quinn Almost Played Scott Evil.

Broadway Video

The stand-up and former SNL Weekend Update host actually turned down the role of Dr. Evil’s bratty offspring, Scott. Quinn admits that he regrets the choice, and explains that he was actually more age appropriate for the character than Seth Green, who should have been much older if the chronology of the movies made a lick of sense.

6. The first film had a groovy MTV special.

Lost to the mists of time is this bizarre MTV launch party for Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. Done in the style of Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, with guest spots from such ’90s standouts as Bill Bellamy and Kurt Loder, this odd special is both an artifact of its time and a psychedelic recreation of Austin Powers’ swinging London.

5. Mike Myers Had an Odd Nickname On Set.

New Line Cinema

Either due to big egos, or just a need to clarify who should sit where, chairs on movie sets often have the director or star’s name on them. Not Myers’ though. A 1999 Rolling Stone article revealed that his chair on the set of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me simply said, “Sir Stinky Bottom, Viscount of Stinkvania in the Bottom-ic Empire.”

4. Myers own father inspired Nigel Powers.

New Line Cinema

Myers father, an Englishman, always held a ridiculous grudge against Hawaiians for murdering Captain Cook in his sleep. Finding this odd bit of hatred hysterical, Myers decided to use it when developing Austin Powers’ own father, swapping in a hatred of the Dutch, because who in their right mind hates the Dutch?

3. Test Audiences Demanded More Raunchy Jokes, Baby.

Films usually do reshoots because something isn’t working. Thankfully, the exact opposite happened here. The “Penis Rocket” scene from Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me was such a hit with test audiences, the filmmakers decided to fluff it up, adding more juvenile jokes to really, ahem, milk it for all it was worth.

2. The “Goldmember” title almost didn’t happen.

New Line Cinema

MGM, the studio behind James Bond, almost put the kibosh on the Goldfinger spoof in the title of Austin Powers in Goldmember. New Line Cinema had to agree to run trailers for the Bond film Die Another Day with Goldmember in order to get away with the gag.

1. A famous Michael Caine character inspired Austin’s glasses.

Universal

Myers drew inspiration from Michael Caine’s character in the 1965 spy thriller The Ipcress File for Austin’s now iconic glasses. Caine returned the nod by wearing the original glasses when he played Nigel Powers in Austin Powers in Goldmember.

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The Best Of The Last

The end is near. In mere days Portlandia wraps up its final season, and oh what a season it’s been. Lucky for you, you can watch the entire season right now right here and on the IFC app, including this free episode courtesy of Subaru.

But now, let’s take a moment to look back at some of the new classics Fred and Carrie have so thoughtfully bestowed upon us. (We’ll be looking back through tear-blurred eyes, but you do you.)

Couples Dinner

It’s not that being single sucks, it’s that you suck if you’re single.

Cancel it!

A sketch for anyone who has cancelled more appointments than they’ve kept. Which is everyone.

Forgotten America

This one’s a “Serial” killer…everything both right and wrong about true crime podcasts.

Wedding Planners

The only bad wedding is a boring wedding.

Disaster Hut

It’s only the end of the world if your doomsday kit doesn’t include rosé.

Catch up on Portlandia’s final episodes on demand and at IFC.com

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Your Portlandia Personality Test

Carrie and Fred understand that although we have so much in common, we’re each so beautifully unique and different. To help us navigate those differences, Portlandia has found an easy and honest way to embrace our special selves in the form of a progressive new traffic system: a specific lane for every kind of driver. It’s all in honor of the show’s 8th and final season, and it’s all presented by Subaru.

Ready to find out who you really are? Match your personality to a lane and hop on the expressway to self-understanding.

Lane 10: Trucks Piled With Junk

Your junk is falling out of your trunk. Shake a tail light, people — this lane is for you.

Lane 33: Twins

You’re like a Gemini, but waaaay more pedestrian. Maybe you and a friend just wear the same outfits a lot. Who cares, it’s just twinning enough to make you feel special.

Lane 27: Broken Windows

Bad luck follows you around and everyone knows it. Your proverbial seat is always damp from proverbial rain. Is this the universe telling you to swallow your pride? Yes.

Lane 69: Filthy Cars

You’re all about convenience. Getting your car washed while you drive is a no-brainer.

Lane 43: Newly Divorced Singles

It’s been a while since you’ve driven alone, and you don’t know the rules of the road anymore. What’s too fast? What’s too slow? Are you sending the right signals? Don’t worry, the breakdown lane is nearby if you need it.

Still can’t find a lane to match your personality? Check out all the videos here. And see the final season of Portlandia this spring on IFC.